Using a mixture of psychology, sociology, and business knowledge, studying marketing means you’ll be creative, anticipate customers’ needs, and get ahead of the game.
Marketing involves great ideas and robust research. You’ll learn how to predict what customers want, create a brand, design catchy campaigns, set budgets, and decipher data. You’ll put your digital skills to good use across social media, streaming services, connected TV, and new technologies. Fundamentally it’s about tapping into who your ideal customer is, and what will make them buy a product and understand a brand. There were over 200,000 jobs in the marketing industry last year. Careers for marketing graduates include working for an agency or in-house at a company. You could go on to become a marketing manager, specialise in digital marketing, or branch out into sales, public relations, and communications.
The impact you could make
Plan a digital marketing campaign for a sustainable clothing brand
Analyse the success of a TV ad in targeting Gen-Z consumers
Write and edit the content for an online campaign marketing reusable printer inks
Hi Everyone, I am currently studying Marketing and Management with a placement year. I am in my second year and I would love to help answer any questions or queries you may have. I am in the Dance, Cocktail and Snowsports society.
Sophie
Nottingham Trent University
Marketing
Hello! I am a Ba Marketing student going into my third year after spending last academic year on a year in industry placement. I enjoy playing hockey, spending time with my friends and exploring new places to eat and drink in Nottingham. I’m happy to help and answer any questions you have about NTU, the business school or life in Nottingham 😃
Jack
University of Lincoln
Creative Advertising - BA (Hons)
You know when everyone doesn’t mind getting to the cinema late to skip the adverts? Well I’m that weirdo that makes sure I’m not late. I’ve always loved adverts, short films and writing and so naturally wanted to study how to make a good or even great ad. I’m planning on getting to London one day to work there (in advertising) and i also love cats, dogs, rain, books and films. I also hate exams. Reading this sounds like how a 4 year old writes about their interests- so a bit like creative advertising i guess?
Malika
Nottingham Trent University
Marketing
Hello my name is Malika I am a final year marketing student. I enjoy listening to old school rnb music and in my free time, spending time with my friends and family. I am always happy to help others whether that be advise or even keep company.
Leona
Buckinghamshire New University
Creative Advertising (BA (Hons))
Hi I’m Leona! I have completed my undergraduate studies in Creative Advertising and now I am onto a new postgraduate - MA Advertising! Feel free to ask any questions or talk about anything you wish to know 😊
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“I have enjoyed creating vlogs for my advertising assignment, as well as TikTok and Instagram posts – all very relevant with the current digital age.”
Third year digital marketing management student at Cardiff Metropolitan University
Example module
“I really enjoyed consumer behaviour. It’s a subject that entangles business and the psychology of the clients, which is really interesting and allows you to target the right consumers when setting up a business.”
Second year digital marketing student at University of Westminster
Hard skills you'll develop
Digital marketing
Social media
Search engine optimisation (SEO)
Content creation
Soft skills you'll develop
Communication
Sales
Customer relations
Planning
Careers: Where can it take you?
Find out more about your career prospects from studying marketing. The following information is based on a typical advertising and marketing professional role.
Second year marketing student at Nottingham Trent University
“I like how varied marketing is, with elements of psychology, creativity and data analysis, with the latter being the thing I love the most. I find it fascinating to analyse data and then make key decisions from it.”
You may never have heard of a media planner, but they still work within marketing, using their skills to work out which digital and other platforms will work best for a company’s advertising campaigns. As well as understanding the creative and psychological aspects of advertising, media planners are good at data analysis and presentations, and they often love a spreadsheet!
Take our careers quiz to find your ideal job matched to your personality type.
Getting in: Entry requirements
Find out more about what you'll need to study marketing at university or as an apprenticeship.
Average requirements for undergraduate degrees
Entry requirements differ between university and course, but this should give you a guide to what is usually expected from marketing applicants.
A Levels
BCC
Scottish Highers
BBBBB
Vocational
BTEC DDM
Other Level 3/Level 6 qualifications (e.g. Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma or an SQCF Level 6) may be accepted as an alternative to A Levels/Highers.
Check out live apprenticeship vacancies in marketing.
69% of students
are highly likely to recommend marketing to others
(UCAS subject survey 2023)
Explore further
Go deeper into topics around marketing with the following.
Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)
Check out the CIM’s content hub, for articles on things like marketing trends and sustainable marketing, and access to their fortnightly podcast.
Marketing Week
Read this magazine to keep up-to-speed with industry news, gain an understanding of the different areas of marketing, and get tips on career development.
Neuromarketing: The new science of consumer decisions
If you want to explore the psychology of marketing further, check out this TEDx talk by neuroscientist Terry Wu about how consumers make buying choices.
Application advice
Whether it's personal statement tips or what to write in a cover letter for an apprenticeship application, our application advice will help you get ahead in your marketing journey.
Skills, experiences, and interests to mention
Show you’ve done your own market research and know what you’re applying for. Mention books or content you’ve read, companies or agencies you follow, and what you’ve gleaned about the industry.
How could your part-time jobs apply to marketing? If you’ve worked in a shoe shop or supermarket, explain what you learned from how they market and place products.
Try and get some relevant work experience too, whether that’s shadowing at an agency, doing digital marketing for a smaller firm oryou could volunteer to run a local charity’s social media.
How are you creative – do you enjoy English at school, or like filming and editing videos? And how are you analytical? Maybe you’ve done a data or business project at school.
Give examples of when you’ve worked well with others, whether at school or during extracurricular activities, and when you’ve held a position of responsibility, like being team captain or even babysitting.